Brian Sabean told listeners on his KNBR radio show Thursday that the team could use an experienced left-handed reliever, and Ohman fits the bill. Although the southpaw has had some control issues this year (5.1 BB/9), he has recorded a 2.57 ERA and struck out a batter per inning. He has also handled lefties well, holding them to a .531 OPS for the season.

If they don't acquire Ohman, the Giants could have a hard time finding another satisfactory left-handed arm for their bullpen. An already underwhelming relief market looks even more uninspiring when you consider the lack of lefties on the list. Besides Ohman and Scott Downs, whose price tag may be too high for the Giants, potentially available southpaws include Bruce Chen, Alan Embree, and Scott Schoeneweis.

The 40-year-old struggled at Triple A Charlotte, allowing 11 hits and five walks in 7.1 innings, though he did strike ten batters out. If any teams have interest in Embree, it would presumably be on a minor league deal. The D'Backs have no left-handed pitchers on their staff and their bullpen has combined for a 7.42 ERA.

Embree, 40, tossed 7.3 innings for Boston's Triple A club this year.  In 2009, he posted a 5.84 ERA in 24.6 innings for the Rockies before a July line drive from Martin Prado fractured his tibia.  Chicago's pen currently has Matt Thornton and Randy Williams coming from the left side.  It's only a seven-inning sample, but Williams has struggled against left-handed hitters this year.

FRIDAY, 10:23pm: The Red Sox designated lefty reliever Alan Embree for assignment, tweets Sean McAdam of CSNNE.com.  Boston DFA'd the 40-year-old in order to make room for the returning Daisuke Matsuzaka.  Embree did not appear in a major league game for Boston this season.

Embree was allowed to opt out of his minor league deal with the BoSox on April 15th, as he had not yet been promoted to the majors.  He agreed to extend his deal for another two weeks and was called up ten days later.  The contract was set to pay the lefty $500K for making the major league squad, a sum that could have ballooned to as much as $1.1MM with incentives.

Roughly two weeks ago, the veteran reliever stated that he would "go home" if he wasn't on the varsity squad in Boston or presented with another enticing opportunity.  Embree told Scott Lauber of The Boston Herald that he will now return home to talk to his agent to see if another team might be interested in his services.  Lauber points out that the Phillies were interested at one point, though it's unclear if they still have a spot for him.

• The time Scott Schoeneweis spent with the Brewers in Spring Training likely gave him a leg up on Alan Embree this season, writes Ian Browne of MLB.com.  Embree was DFA'd yesterday by the BoSox in order to make room for Daisuke Matsuzaka. 
• Dodgers prospect Andrew Lambo was suspended 50 games for his second violation of baseball's drug policy, tweets Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times. Prior to the 2009 season, the outfielder ranked 49th on Baseball America's top 100 prospects list.
• Jim Bowden of XM Radio (via Twitter) spoke to Adrian Gonzalez, who says that he's not looking at Ryan Howard's new contract.
• With a good outing for Double-A Harrisburg tomorrow, the Nats will promote Stephen Strasburg to Triple-A Syracuse, writes MLB.com's Bill Ladson.
• The Mets' Triple-A affiliate cut lefty Travis Blackley loose, tweets Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork.com.  The move will make room for the returning Elmer Dessens.
• ESPN's Buster Olney notes that Barry Zito has reinvented himself this season, and is starting to deliver a little of what the Giants were expecting when they signed him for $126MM.  
• Mark Bradley of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution doesn't believe the Braves can compete with the lineup as constructed. 
• Within this piece, Richard Justice of The Houston Chronicle mentions that prior to trading Brad Lidge to the Phillies, the Indians were willing to part with Cliff Lee to obtain the All-Star closer. That was the offseason prior to Lee's breakout Cy Young season.
• In an article for ESPN Boston, Mike Andrews of SoxProspects.com looks at the Red Sox depth and what the backup plans are should any of the regulars get injured.

The 40-year-old Embree was originally able to opt out of his deal on April 15th, but he agreed to push it back another two weeks. Embree allowed two runs in 7.1 Triple-A innings, but he held lefties to just one walk in 4.1 innings against them.

Boston will need to make a 40-man roster move to accommodate Embree's arrival.

• Since the Dodgers called Xavier Paul up from the minors, he should be getting regular playing time with Manny Ramirez out, reasons Steve Dilbeck of the Los Angeles Times.
• Alan Embree told Dan Barbarisi of The Providence Journal that he won't be extending his contract deadline again.  He hopes to be called up by the Red Sox by April 30th.
• The AP has details on Ben Zobrist's $18MM extension with the Rays.
• Though the knuckleballer doesn't say it, Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe says "it's obvious [Tim Wakefield] isn't keen on his new [bullpen] assignment."
• Jim Callis of Baseball America explores what might happen if MLB allows trading draft picks.
• Joel Sherman of the New York Post wonders how long Javier Vazquez will be given to get on track.
• With tongue firmly in cheek, Grant of the McCovey Chronicles predicts free agent-to-be Jayson Werth will sign with the Giants next winter.
• ESPN's Keith Law shares his rankings of the top 100 prospects for the June amateur draft.  (ESPN Insider subscription required.)
• Speaking of young players, MLB.com's Jane Lee talks to Athletics director of player personnel Keith Leippman about some of the top prospects in Oakland's farm system.
• ESPN.com's Eric Karabell says that if Matt Capps can keep up his strong start, the right-hander will be a good trade chip for Washington over the summer.  Karabell also notes that if Capps is dealt, it will likely be to a team looking for set-up help, not a closer.
• Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times says it's a close call between Derek Jeter or Manny Ramirez for the title of "best big contract in baseball history."

The lefty reliever told Pawtucket Red Sox broadcaster Dan Hoard that he will "go home" if he is not promoted by the Red Sox or presented with another enticing opportunity.  Under his minor league deal with Boston, Embree can earn up to $1.1MM if he is brought up to the big show.

Embree had appeared in more than 60 games for ten straight seasons before a freak injury ended his 2009 campaign prematurely.  He has been less-than-stellar with Pawtucket, though 3.1 innings is hardly a fair sample size.

THURSDAY, 9:43pm: Amalie Benjamin of the Boston Globe reports (via Twitter) that LHP Alan Embree won't yet exercise the opt-out clause in his Red Sox contract.  Embree was eligible to opt out as of today since he isn't on the major league roster.  WEEI's Alex Speier adds that Embree will spend "a few more weeks" in Triple-A Pawtucket before deciding his next move.

The 40-year-old reliever didn't sign with Boston until March 21, so it's likely he's using his time in the minors as an extended spring training to work himself into proper game shape.  Delaying the opt-out clause also gives Embree more time for agent Chris Leible to search the market for a new contract.  Embree could join these relievers as possible pick-ups for a team in need of bullpen help.

• ESPN's Jerry Crasnick looks at nine revolving door positions for various teams, such as Red Sox shortstop and Braves' left fielder.
• RotoAuthority looks at a few potential buy-low candidates on the young fantasy season.
• Murray Chass takes USA Today to task for publishing inaccurate salary data.
• Jim Callis ranks Baseball America's #1 prospects from the last ten years, putting Jason Heyward behind only Matt Wieters and Josh Beckett.
• MLB.com's Anthony Castrovince looks at the background of the Indians' GM-in-waiting, Chris Antonetti.
• ESPN's Keith Law agrees with Ben Goessling of MASN, saying the Nationals have "more or less settled on Bryce Harper."  Law says the Nats would be nuts to take someone else.
• MLB.com's Ian Browne tweets that Red Sox GM Theo Epstein has been in touch with Alan Embree's agent, perhaps regarding the lefty's April 15th out-out date.
• Richard Griffin of the Toronto Star notes that the Blue Jays have to place Adeiny Hechavarria on the 2013 25-man Opening Day 2013 roster, or else place him on waivers.
• SI's Melissa Segura tweets that the Twins were impressed by outfielder Vicmal de la Cruz, "perhaps the jewel of the 2010 July 2 class."  Click here to view Kiley McDaniel's video of the kid. 

• If you're viewing MLBTR on your cell phone, try mlbtraderumors.mobi!
• Alan Embree expects to exercise the opt out clause in his contract if he's not added to the Red Sox's big league roster by April 15th, reports WEEI.com's Ethan Landy.
• MASNSports.com about how a Major League trade comes together. Check it out, very interesting stuff. 
• C. Trent Rosecrans of CNATI.com learned from Reds GM Walt Jocketty last night that the team has yet to have contract extension discussions with first baseman Joey Votto.  Yesterday we speculated on what it might take to lock Votto up long-term.
• An interesting Rays-centric back-and-forth continues, with Jeff Passan filing a reubttal on Jonah Keri's site.
• MLB.com's Adam McCalvy looks at the recent instances of teams signing home-grown pitchers to extensions.
• Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins was on the Dan Patrick Show talking about the surprise he and Jayson Werth felt when Cliff Lee was dealt.  Rollins said the Yankees would've kept Lee and Roy Halladay and made a run with the pair of aces.
• Padres exec Paul DePodesta explains that while it was painful to lose Chad Huffman to a waiver claim, there's a silver lining in the organization's improved depth.
• Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe has the details on Josh Beckett's new contract with the Red Sox, which totals $68,520,403.
• Many lesser-known players have been released in recent days; Baseball America's Matt Eddy has the details.

• While other clubs did some last minute tinkering today, Brewers GM Doug Melvin decided to stand pat with his lineup, writes Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel.
• For the first time in three years, the Marlins won't have the lowest payroll in baseball on Opening Day, writes Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald.  Florida's payroll of $46MM ranks ahead of the Padres and Pirates.
• Gordon Edes of ESPNBoston.com (via Twitter) didn't expect Scott Schoeneweis to make the BoSox roster after being released by the Brewers.  Edes adds that he expects Alan Embree to make his way to the big league squad after he puts in more work in the minors.
• The Mets have demoted reliever Kiko Calero to their Triple-A affiliate, according to Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork.com (via Twitter).  Calero's deal – which he signed in early March – does not allow Calero to opt-out upon being assigned to the minors.
• Jeff Zrebiec and Dan Connolly of The Baltimore Sun write that O's outfielder Nolan Reimold took ground balls at first base yesterday.  Orioles GM Andy MacPhail told the Sun not to read too much into it, as they were only seeking to increase the 26-year-old's versatility.  However, an item on ESPN's rumor page wonders aloud if the fielding practice could be about the club's future plans at the position without Luke Scott and Garrett Atkins.
• A major league insider told Jordan Bastian of MLB.com that the extension given to Adam Lind is a good deal for both parties.  The Blue Jays signed Lind to a four-year, $18MM pact yesterday morning.
• Ken Gurnick of MLB.com points out that Carlos Monasterios is just the fourth Rule 5 draftee to make a Dodgers Opening Day roster.

Amalie Benjamin of the Boston Globe added the opt-out details; Alex Speier of WEEI.com added the salary Embree will earn if he's on the major league roster and Gordon Edes of ESPNBoston added specifics about the incentives (Twitter links).

Embree, 40, posted a 5.84 ERA, 4.4 K/9, and 4.4 BB/9 in 24.6 innings for the Rockies last year. His season ended in July when a line drive fractured his tibia. Checking Embree's FanGraphs splits, his recent work against lefties has been spotty.

The Sox already have lefty relievers Hideki Okajima and Fabio Castro on the 40-man roster and Brian Shouse in camp on a non-roster invite.

Torrealba's agent indicated that his client has not ruled out returning to the club, but the Rockies are committed to Chris Iannetta as their starter. Yorvit hit .291/.351/.380 in 242 plate appearances on the year, while Embree threw just 24.2 innings in 2009 before a liner broke his leg and forced him to miss the rest of the season.